Forgiving Justice

"...So it came a bit of a shock to me when I saw what was happening between Bella and Theo. No one would have guessed that anything like that could happen to us: the happy go lucky Balmers and Kensits living in the big house on the corner. But that’s the funny thing about life. You never know what’s coming next."

Fifteen year old Natalie Balmer/Kensit has never really felt like she belongs. Throughout her childhood she was continually bounced from one home to another- whilst keeping a terrible secret that her older sister Bella was being brutally abused. Now, living in care, seperated from her family and in a steady relationship with boyfriend Jasper, Natalie is shocked to find her past being dragged out in front of her.

Theo is back. And his story's in court.

Natalie, as the only witness to Bella and Theo's injustice, is now compelled to make a life changing decision- Keep her families together?

31. It Made You Angry.

Theo wheeled up to the witness stand slowly, gleaming with sweat and grim as a malevolent clown; his claw-like hands pushing the wheels of his chair dynamically. I tried to see the little boy in his eyes as he made his way up to the box, but somehow, I couldn't. As far back as I could remember, Theo had never been a little boy. Throughout my childhood he was and always will be the single most dominating presence in our lives.

He had been an evil old man stuck in an eight-year-old's body.

The Judge stared at him with little more than savage hatred as he moved closer. It didn't matter, for I was sure that most of the room hadn't noticed, however I was known for my careful unpicking of human emotions. I still wasn't sure if this trait was something to be proud of, of to run away from.

"Mr. Bowles?" The Judge invited Bella's lawyer to proceed. I watched as I saw the kind man stand up hurriedly and shuffle his papers. "Good morning, Mr. Kensit," he began civilly.

Theo glowered down at him. "Don't mock me."

"I wasn't. I was simply being polite."

Theo jeered. "Is that what you lawyers do, is it? Be polite?" He spat out the last word.

Theo rolled her eyes as if this was the stupidest thing he had ever been asked to do. "I was in my room. It was around ten o clock, just like she said."

"She, Mr. Kensit?"

Theo scrunched his eyes up as if trying to control his emotions. "Bella," he growled. There was a muted silence as everyone in the court room heard Theo utter Bella's name. Mr. Bowles broke the silence. "In your room doing what, Mr. Kensit?"

Theo looked down at his hands for a moment, held tightly together in his lap. "I was listening to music."

"Do you remember what music you were listening to?"

Theo closed his eyes again, as if every single time he did so a little movie of that dreadful night played in his head. His eventual words came out roughly, harshly; like sandpaper on a flowerpot. "Yes. Thom Yorke."

"So you remember the night pretty well then?"

"Clear as day."

There was a pause for a moment, and someone coughed quickly in the gallery, breaking the silence. Mr. Bowles moved closer to Theo. "Do you know why that is, Mr. Kensit? Why you remember that night so well?"

Theo shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but I could see the panic behind his ice blue eyes. He spoke words slowly, carefully; perhaps choosing each word as he spoke. "I. Have. A. Good. Memory."

"Is that so?" Asked Bella's lawyer, somehow making the question sound cynical through his usually warm smile. "So can you remember, for instance, far back when you were a child?"

"Of course I can."

"When you were an infant?"

Theo suddenly stiffened. His eyes seemed to glaze over slightly, and he stared straight in front of him without blinking once. He answered Mr. Bowles in a monotone. "No. I can't remember then."

"You can't remember the abuse you suffered?" Bella's lawyer pressed on, "the neglect? The times when you...?"

"I'm afraid I do, Mr. Kensit," Bella's lawyer answered smoothly, "you see, I have your file here from your social worker from when you were finally taken out of the care of your Mother."

"I said stop it!"

Mr. Bowles lowered his voice all of a sudden, as if he was trying to soothe Theo. "It made you angry, didn't it Mr. Kensit?"

Theo's lawyer stood up, as if she couldn't take any more. The veins on her forehead and neck were throbbing angrily next to her swan-like skin. "Mr. Bowles, I am failing to see where the distressing details of my client's past is relevant in the question we have of why he was injured that night."

Mr. Bowles put a restraining hand up. "His feelings towards his past may begin to explain his actions towards Isabella that may have prompted her to push Theodore Kensit down the stairs."

"I disagree."

Mr. Bowles turned towards Theo. "Okay, Mr. Kensit, let's just say that for arguments sake, Isabella spontaneously got you to the stairs. Why didn't you move away? Why didn't you try to escape in those split seconds while Isabella decided whether or not to push you?"

Theo glared at Mr. Bowles, and then mumbled. "I was scared. I was eight years old, for God's sake!"

Bella's lawyer turned back to Theo's lawyer.

"But in truth, Mr. Kensit would not have been injured if he hadn't attempted to harm Ms. Balmer that night."

She cut back in. "Objection! We don't know that."

The Judge sighed, as if he was sick of the somewhat petty disagreements. "Sustained. Stick to the facts, Mr. Bowles."

Bella's lawyer ambled back to his desk. He looked at Bella for a moment, then moved his eyes back to Theo. I tried not to see the agony in his eyes, as if he thought he hadn't done enough. "No further questions, your Honour."